The manual count of absentee ballots began Tuesday night and continued today. But it won't be completed until Thursday, said Kim DeLand, supervisor of the election office. The final official count will happen Friday.

DiPlacido, who will serve his second four-year term if his lead holds, said he was nervous as he watched the returns come in with his family Tuesday night. He said he thought the margin would be much larger, either for or against him.

"It was quite the nail-biter," said DiPlacido, 65, a retired electrical engineer. "I honestly didn't think it would be close."